ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD HIVAIDS AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN UPM SERDANG
ISLAMIC KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD HIV/AIDS AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN UPM SERDANG
1 Hanina HalimatusaadiahHamsan
2 Lee Mei Siah
1,2 Department Of Social And Development ScienceFaculty Of Human Ecology Universiti Putra Malaysia
hanina@upm.edu.my
Abstract
Research has been conducted attitudes related HIV/AIDS issue particularly among university students because students are the group of younger generation that may
be parents advising their children in future or they may have to contact with HIV infected and AIDS people in their future work. The purpose of research design is to identify the most economical method in conducting the research. The non- experimental quantitative research design which is in questionnaire tools has used to finalize results that are based on hypothesis testingThe population of this study is targeted to the undergraduates from Human Ecology in UPM, Serdang. The sample size for the study is determined by the calculation formula (Israel, 2009). The minimum sample size for FEM is approximately 271, which is calculated by the formula of known population size (N = 835) with the 95% confidence level and confidence interval of 5%.to achieve the objectives for this current study. Besides, three techniques of research design are descriptive, correlation and comparative also have been chosen in this study. Descriptive design is used to gather the quantitative information and then organizes, tabulates, depicts, and describes the data collection. Descriptive involved in this study will be given a general description about respondent’s personal characteristic (gender), level of knowledge in HIV/AIDS and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. The correlation design is applied to determine the linear relationship between personal characteristic (gender), knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among FEM undergraduates. The result of the correlation can be positive and negative. If the result is positive correlation, then the changes in value of one variable will make the changes of the other variables in the same direction, or vice versa.
Keyword : Knowledge, attitudes, HIV, Islamic
Background of the Study
developed and developing countries HIV is defined as the virus that causes
around the world (www.aids.gov, the disease AIDS. It has become one
2011). HIV infection and AIDS can of the most serious health and
affect physical, mental, emotional, development challenges in both
social and spiritual dimensions of 176
Hanina Halimatussaidiyah Hamsan, Lee Mei Siah; Islamic Khowledge and Attitudes Toward HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in UPM Serdang
HIV/AIDS diseases HIV/AIDS is not merely a health
human development life. Besides,
The
significantly slow the growth of the problem but also impact on social,
labour force and also affect the most economical,
members especially development. It is significant reducing
younger generation in several sectors the life expectancy of those infected
since previous study found that young persons, increasing in the number of
people are particularly vulnerable to orphaned children, creating turbulence
transmitted HIV/AIDS in
sexually
(Suominen,Karanja-Pernu, contributing to economic insecurity,
health care
Kylma,Houtsonen&Va¨lima¨ki,2011). potentially leading to political instability
Therefore, this phenomenon has (Sowell, 2004).HIV infection pandemic
makes governmentand public worried posses a great threat to human life
about the unhealthy attitudes of and cause significant morbidity and
nowadays younger people of the mortality
society especially students are engage population (WHO, 2004).
in risky behaviour related to HIV/AIDS According to the United Nations
transmission such as use of alcohol, Agency for International Development
drugs, unprotected (UNAIDS, 2011), about 34 million
intravenous
or heterosexual people worldwideas December 2010
homosexual
intercourse and free sex that could were living with HIV, the virus that
increase their risk of HIV infection and causes AIDS. UNAIDS alsoreported
AIDS diseases due to the lack of that every year around 2.7 million
general knowledge on HIV/AIDS more people become infected with HIV
exposure and transmission. and 1.8 million die of AIDS. In
The epidemic of HIV/AIDS Malaysia, the first three HIV case were
stigma has consequences and can reported in 1986. Between of 1986 to
result in attitudes and actions that may 2000, it was recorded about 38,340
prevent infected people from seeking cases. Then, the total number of HIV
or obtaining the health care and social infection cases continued to grow with
support. HIV/AIDS is labeled as a the highest number recorded in the
stigmatized disease from the past end
research of stigma in HIV positive (www.moh.gov.my, 2012).The
women, indicated that women infected infection in Malaysia affected more
HIV
HIV/AIDS faced the men than women initially but the
with
consequences of stigmatization in their percentage of women infected by HIV
life such as being stigmatized and keeps increasing year by year. Every
rejected by their partners, relatives, day, an average of 10 people tested
friends, employers, co-workers and with positive HIV in Malaysia (Ministry
care providers of Health Malaysia, 2012). According
also
health
(Sandelowski, Lambe&Barroso,2004). to Ministry of Health of Malaysia,
Besides, a past study also mentioned young populations are at higher risk
that healthcare workers expressed exposed to HIV infection. Of the total
their fear to care for HIV/AIDS patients 94,841HIV infection cases, 2.4%
(Turan, Miller, Bukusi, Sande& Cohen, cases were aged 19 years and
negative attitude below.In 2011, children and young
2008).People’s
toward people living with HIV/AIDS people for aged 19 years and below
(PLWHA) is a major community were 3.5% of 3,479 for that year out of
challenge to fight against HIV/AIDS. which 54% aged below 13 years who
People who may be infected with acquired infection through vertical
HIV/AIDS are more reluctant to transmission.
disclose their status due to feeling 177
Al-Fikra: Jurnal Ilmiah Keislaman, Vol. 16, No. 2, Juli – Desember , 2017 (176 – 202)
stigmatized, rejected and isolated poor understanding of the disease in (Colbert, Kim, Sereika&Erlen, 2010;
Nigerian population, even among Naing, Hakim, Ang, Koo, Tan, Kong
thehealthcare providers are reluctant &Siew, 2010) and potentially less
to treat people infected with HIV/AIDS engaged in care (Colbert et al., 2010).
(Monjok,2009). Thus, the positive Studies also stated that poor
attitudes and knowledge on HIV/AIDS knowledge about HIV/AIDS can make
be emphasized and people to have negative attitudes
should
into the students towards HIV/AIDS and this will directly
implemented
especially those who will become contribute to theglobal problem of
health care providers in the future. stigmatization
against
PLWHA.
According to Ojebuyi (2009), the
1.1 Statement of Problem
factors probably that cause the stigma Research has been conducted and discrimination attitudes against
attitudes related HIV/AIDS issue people with HIV/AIDS are the public’s
particularly among university students inadequate knowledge and strong
because students are the group of misconceptions
younger generation that may be pandemic.Knowledge on HIV/AIDS
about
the
parents advising their children in future means
or they may have to contact with HIV understanding about the HIV/AIDS.
facts, information,
and
infected and AIDS people in their Knowledge influenced by cultural
future work (Serlo, 2008). It is prudent factors and gained especially through
to conduct the study among university learning and experience. Level of
students to ascertain their knowledge knowledge on HIV/AIDS frequently
and attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS. related with
the present study PLWHA, and those with less HIV/AIDS
theattitudes toward
Therefore,
investigated the relationships between knowledge are often thosepossess
and attitudes toward negative stigma attitudes. Result of
knowledge
HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in previous research study proved that
UPM (Universiti Putra Malaysia), attitude was significantly positive
Serdang.
correlated with knowledge (Montazeri, 2005; Meundi, Amma, Rao&Shetty,
The purpose of this study is to 2008). A study about HIV knowledge,
identify the knowledge HIV/AIDS and attitudes and misconceptions was
attitudes toward HIV/AIDS among conducted in Turkey reported that
undergraduates in UPM, Serdang. respondents who were well educated
Specifically, this study will identify and living in the city showed more
respondent’spersonal characteristic positive attitudes toward people living
to knowledge with HIV/AIDS (Ayranci, 2005).
(gender)related
andattitudes toward HIV/AIDS. In Study in knowledge, attitude and
addition, this study determines the behaviour of the students from
between medicine faculty, dentistry faculty, and
relationship
respondent’spersonal characteristic medical technology vocational training
(gender)with HIV/AIDS knowledge and school mentioned that about HIV/AIDS
toward HIV/AIDS. In infectious diseases is crucial because
attitudes
summary, the following are the it will affect the students of these
be professions’ care toward HIV/AIDS
researches
questions will
addressed in this study: patients in the future (Turhan, Senol,
Baykul, Saba &Yalçin, 2010). Besides,
a) What is the level of knowledge another previous study indicated that
HIV/AIDS among the exist of fear in HIV/AIDSdue to the
on
respondents? 178
Hanina Halimatussaidiyah Hamsan, Lee Mei Siah; Islamic Khowledge and Attitudes Toward HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in UPM Serdang
b) To what extent is respondent’s level. At individual level, findings personal
to the students (gender) related to knowledge
characteristic
maybenefits
themselves as the study may create or of HIV/AIDS and attitudes
increase awareness of the effects of toward HIV/AIDS?
the HIV/AIDS knowledge on their
c) To what extent is knowledge of attitudes toward HIV/AIDS. Perhaps HIV/AIDS
that the students will be more respondent’s attitudes toward
related
to
tolerance and understandings of those HIV/AIDS?
that have been affected by HIV/AIDS
d) What factors uniquely predict so that the HIV/AIDS stigmatization attitudes toward HIV/AIDS of
and discrimination issues can be the respondents?
reduce to the minimum.
At
society level, essential
1.2 Conceptual Framework
information may gain from the findings This framework consists of
a better antecedent
understanding toward HIV/AIDS on personal characteristic), independent
variable
(respondents’
people and education. variable (HIV/AIDS knowledge) and
younger
Parents, teachers and many more dependent variable (attitudes toward
related social institutions could be HIV/AIDS). As studies suggest that
benefited from the findings in order to attitudes toward HIV/AIDS is greatly
provide better guides according the influence by people’s knowledge
ways to promote more positive (Montazeri, 2005; Meundi et al., 2008),
toward HIV/AIDS therefore knowledge on HIV/AIDS will
understanding
among their younger generation. For
be used in the model to access the example, policy makers in the attitudes of respondents.
educational institutions may benefit Knowledge is the perception of
from this result in planning for general reality acquired through learning and
of HIV/AIDS related investigation expressed in a form that
knowledge
courses to be taught in throughout can be shared.The level of knowledge
national level, the of students will affect their perception
curriculum.At
findings from this study may provide of how HIV/AIDS is acquired and this
useful information that can be referred can contribute on how they express
by the government, non-government either positive or negative attitude
agencies and also education centre as toward HIV/AIDS. Naing, Hakim, Ang,
guidance to organize appropriate plan Koo, Tan, Kong &Siew(2010) stated
or program on HIV/AIDS to educate that to have better perceptions toward
public or students. This appropriate HIV/AIDS depends on an improved the
program can enhance the knowledge knowledge
and attitudes toward HIV/AIDS and transmission.
of HIV/AIDS
mode
this also will indirectly to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS stigmatization
The study of the knowledge and and discrimination issues that happen attitudes toward HIV/AIDS is important
in our society.
to understand how attitudes would be affected by the personal characteristic
1.3 Definition of Terminology
and knowledge of HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in UPM. This finding
Personal
Characteristic,
may contribute significantly to the Conceptual: The personal development at three various levels.
include gender; The first is individual level, next at
characteristic
motivation; sexual orientation; values, society level and finally at national
attitudes, and beliefs; education; 179
Al-Fikra: Jurnal Ilmiah Keislaman, Vol. 16, No. 2, Juli – Desember , 2017 (176 – 202)
personality; focus on relationship study or facultythey attend such as the function; leadership style; and political
earlier study indicatedthat students beliefs (O’Connell & Cuthbertson,
from Faculty of Health Sciences were 2009). Personal characteristics are
more knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS unique to a particular person.
compared to Faculty of Arts and other Operational: Personal characteristic in
selected faculties of the university this studyrefer to the gender of the
Imhonde, Maliki&Alutu, respondent. Gender is indicated by
(Aluede,
2005).In an addition, the study in New male and female.
Delhi high school reported that knowledge
HIV/AIDS was HIV/AIDS Knowledge Conceptual:
of
correlated with the Knowledge represents reality in
significantly
exposure of HIV/AIDS education thought or experience the way it really
(Pramanik, Koopman&Chartier, 2006), is on the basis of adequate grounds
which means the greater exposure to (Moreland,
2009).Knowledge the HIV/AIDS education showed that ofHIV/AIDS means facts, information,
higher knowledge of HIV/AIDS. and
The study by Pramanik and HIV/AIDS.Operational:Respondent’s
colleagues (2006) also revealed that score on HIV/AIDS knowledge Scale
students agreed that for Hispanics wasproposed by Luquis
majorityof
schools and universities should teach and Koch (1991). High score indicates
HIV/AIDS and sex education, and also higher level in the knowledge of
believed that it was a society’ duty to HIV/AIDS.
educated
people about the HIV/AIDS.Similary, a study stated that
HIV/AIDS Attitudes
majority of Arab University students Attitudes often correlated with
Conceptual:
agreed that young people need to behavior and can be defined as
know more information and should be positive or negative feelings toward a
given education on how to protect fact (Population
themselves against HIV/AIDS and Attitudes generally can be defined as
Council,
about half of them expressed that they positive or negative views about
had not been taught enough at school HIV/AIDS. Operational: Report on
(Ganczak, Barss, Alfaresi, Almazrouei, scores obtained by respondent in
Muraddad& Al-Maskari, 2007). Another HIV/AIDS Attitudes Scale
study about knowledge and attitude Hispanics was proposed by Luquis
for
towards HIV/AIDS among Iranian and Koch (1991).
students, also mentioned that majority who get higher score indicates positive
Respondent
of students said that wish to know attitudes toward HIV/AIDS.
more information about HIV/AIDS and most of students agreed with the
Undergraduate
A response in the question of investment university or college student who is
Conceptual:
on youth education, which is the best studying for their bachelor’s degree
way to fight AIDS diseases (Tavoosi, (Piero, 2010).
Operational: UPM’s Zaferani,Enzevaei,Tajik&Ahmadinezha undergraduate student.
d, 2004). Thus, HIV/AIDS must be addressed
by
education that
Knowledge on HIV/AIDS
the attitudes toward Knowledge is a cognitive component
recognized
HIV/AIDS, which can increase the of attitude that describes whatpeople
awareness among young people on think and perceived. The students’
how to protect themselves from the general knowledge about HIV/AIDS
risk of HIV/AIDS infection (Ganczak et was associated with the program of
Hanina Halimatussaidiyah Hamsan, Lee Mei Siah; Islamic Khowledge and Attitudes Toward HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in UPM Serdang
al., 2007; Pramanik, Koopman & perceived that a person can be Chartier, 2006).
infected with HIV by eating HIV- Additionally,
infected food, sharing comb and knowledge was significant associated
hairbrush, casual kissing, donating with
attitudes (Montazeri, 2005; blood and mosquito bites. This study Meundi et al., 2008;Rahnama,Rampal,
result showed that knowledge scores Lye&Rahman, 2011; Suominen et al.,
about HIV/AIDS were low becauseonly 2011), those who possess stigma
one student had a high HIV/AIDS attitudes are often those with lower
knowledge level. Besides, the another levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge or vice-
study about AIDS knowledge and versa.
attitudes among the general public in indicated
Some previous
studies
Tehran, Iran byMontazeri (2005) also sorinadequate of knowledge about
that
misconception
showed that there was also exist of how
misconception about the diseases significantly
HIV is transmitted
have
among Iranian although they had a stigmatizing and negative attitudes
correlated
with
fairy good in knowledge of HIV/AIDS. towards PLWHA (Ganczak et al.,
Other studies also showed that 2007;Sallar, 2009; Zhang, Li, Mao,
of knowledge or Stanton,
studentslack
about virus 2008). In addition, people with better
Zhao, Wang
&Mathur,
misinformation
transmission include drinking water, understanding of HIV/AIDS knowledge
utensils, shaking hand, tended to view PLWHA in a more
sharing
sneezing and coughing, using public positive perception than those without
swimming pools, using public toilets, the knowledge (Varas-Díaz, Serrano-
and mosquito bites (Meundi et al., García& Toro-Alfonso, 2005). Similarly,
Koksal, Namal, several research studies also found
Vehid&Yurtsever, 2005; Pramanik, that students with high levels of
Koopman&Chartier, 2006; Tung, knowledge about HIV/AIDS showed
Ding&Farmer,2008). Additionally, more
previous studies also found that HIV/AIDS (Montazeri, 2005; Meundi et
positive attitudes
toward
about HIV/AIDS al., 2008;Suominen et al., 2011).
misconceptions
transmission still existed, such as the Furthermore, the study on
belief HIV/AIDS can be contracted knowledge, attitudes, and educational
from mosquito bites, saliva or physical needs among Arab University students
touch (Nainget al., 2010); children in United Arab Emirates was carried
would never be contracted by out by Ganczakand colleagues (2007),
HIV/AIDS, HIV-positive people can be they reported that most students had a
recognized by their appearance, and good knowledge on main route of HIV
believed that there is a cure and transmission mode such as HIV can
vaccine for AIDS(Tavoosiet al., 2004).
be infected through mother to fetus Meanwhile, a study found that and
do not have intercourse with an
having unprotected
misconceptions of HIV transmission person, but misconception was still
HIV-infected
modes, but still possess stigmatizing existed. Similarly, study also found that
attitudes towards PLWHA (Zhang et tertiary students in Papua New
al., 2008). Moreover, some studies Guineaoverall had high level of
also found that stigma and intolerant knowledge about the transmission and
attitude toward HIV and AIDS was not causes of HIV/AIDS (Jose, Totona,
associated with the level of HIV/AIDS Begani, Andew, Tombe & Begani,
among students 2011).However, many misconceptions
knowledge
(Pramanik, Koopman & Chartier, 2006; about HIV/AIDS
such as they Zhang et al., 2008; Serlo, 2008). Study 181
Al-Fikra: Jurnal Ilmiah Keislaman, Vol. 16, No. 2, Juli – Desember , 2017 (176 – 202)
by Norman, Carr and Jime´nez (2006) HIV/AIDS.Besides, the earlier findings proposed that intolerant attitudes
found that students’ attitude are toward PLWHA associated with the
affected by the factor of faculty they disapproval of socially unacceptable
attend, which mentioned that medical behaviors, such as
more acceptable homosexuality and commercial sex.
drug use,
students
had
attitudes towardHIV/AIDS or infections Therefore, knowledge itself does not
victims than non-medical students always enough to change attitudes
(Maimaiti, Shamsuddin, Abdurahim, alone and more consideration needed
&Tohti, 2010; Tan,Pan, Zhou, Wang to find appropriate and effective ways
&Xie, 2007).Apart from these factors, to educate the general public, students
other studies also found that age and health care professionals.
(Visser, Makin&Lehobye, 2006;Zhang et al., 2008), race and ethnicity (Varas-
Díaz, Serrano-García& Toro-Alfonso, An attitude toward HIV/AIDS is the
Attitudes toward HIV/AIDS
2005), culture (Abiona, 2006; Ellepola perception or how a person views
2011), religion (Vasan, HIV/AIDS disease. The perception of
et
al.,
Sarma&Thankappan, 2000), and how HIV/AIDS was acquired is crucial
experience of personal interaction with on how people will treat a people
HIV/AIDS infected people (Visser, infected with HIV/AIDS. Attitude often
2006) were correlated with behavior and can be
Makin&Lehobye,
significant impact one’s attitudes defined as positive or negative feelings
toward victims of and HIV/AIDS. toward a fact (Population Council,
The unfavorable attitudes toward 2011). According to Uutela (1985),
HIV/AIDS could also be influenced by concept of attitude defined in three
the prevalent negative attitudes toward components
people with HIV/AIDS. A previous cognitive such as knowledge that
study by Sallar (2009) in Africa found describes what people think, affective
that people hadnegative attitudes such as feeling, and behaviour such
toward and fear of PLWHA, where the as action describes how they would
adolescents in a Nigerian viewed that like to behave in a specific way.
PLWHA should be quarantined and Moreover, attitudes can be define as a
they also would reject relatives and positive, negative, or mixed reaction to
also stop seeing friends who develop
a person, object or idea (Brehm, AIDS. Moreover, the research of Kassin& Fein, 2002). It means at times
and attitudes toward people also can posses both positive
knowledge
HIV/AIDS among Turkish students by and negative evaluation to the same
Koksal and colleagues (2005) found attitude object towards a person or
that more than half of the young object, and it is not simply represented
students expressed that people who along a single continuum ranging from
infected with HIV should not be wholly positive to wholly negative.
allowed to work. Besides, study of knowledge
and attitudes toward People
HIV/AIDS by Tavoosi and colleagues knowledge normally has right attitude
(2004) indicated that negative attitude towards one object. Previous studies
common among Iranian have identified that some factors such
were
students, with they expressed that as level of knowledge on HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS-infected students should not (Serlo, 2008; Lau &Tsui, 2005)
allowed to attend an ordinary schools, andgender (Visser, Makin&Lehobye,
they avoid to sit in a class near an 2006;
infected person, and they would not associated with attitudes towards
Serlo, 2008)were
closely
Hanina Halimatussaidiyah Hamsan, Lee Mei Siah; Islamic Khowledge and Attitudes Toward HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in UPM Serdang
willing to shake hands with a HIV being blamed for their disease and positive person.
they are likely received less sympathy Additionally,
and compassion than others group of conducted in Hong Kong also found
a studywas
HIV/AIDS infected person. It is that HIV/AIDS infected people are
students associated often discriminated and stigmatized
because
immoral sexual against by others (Lau &Tsui, 2005).
HIV/AIDS
with
behavior such as having sex with Lau and colleagues (2005)indicated
prostitutes or promiscuous that is often that nearly half of the residents would
shameful and not make any physical contact with
regarded
as
Pramanik and PLWHA and one thirdof them agreed
embarrassing.
colleagues (2006) alsostated that medical staff infected with HIV should
adolescents perceived the sexual
be dismissed and the other half relationship out of marriage and agreed there should be legislation
homosexual is wrong; and agreed that barring PLWHA from visiting Hong
people who have HIV/AIDS deserve it Kong. Similarly, the study was
and also is a God’s punishment for conducted in a semi-urban community,
bad behavior.
Malaysia reported that household Furthermore, attitude towards setting was afraid to make physical
HIV/AIDS will affect the tendency of contact and reluctant to share food
help and care giving to PLWHA. Some and drinks with infected victims (Naing
studies showed that students with et al., 2010) and this can lead to
positive attitudes toward HIV/AIDS physical and social ostracization of
were more willing to care for PLWHA HIV/AIDS-infected
when compared to students with discrimination that would reduce
person
and
negative attitudes. For example, supportive networks and increases
Suominen et al. (2011) and Vasan, isolation especially in communities.
SarmaandThankappan(2000) found Besides, previous study by
that students with positive attitudes Chen, Choe, Chen, and Zhang (2007)
towardHIV/AIDS disease or PLWHA also indicated that fear of becoming
were willing to take care of them infected with HIV infection can lead to
despite neverhave any personal the stigmatization and discrimination of
contact with such persons before. PLWHA. Other studies also revealed
However, stigmatization problem was that students had a sense of fear and
occurred among university students in negative intolerant attitudes toward
since the finding by PLWHA(Ganczak et al.,2007;Parker
Malaysia
researches showed that the majority of &Aggleton, 2002; Koksalet al.,2005).
the students were not willing to care a Studies also indicated that students
person with HIV in their own house had negative feelings due to the fear
(Rahnama, Rampal, Lye &Rahman, of infected with the HIV/AIDS virus
since there is currently no cure Interestingly, another study by available for HIV/AIDS (Abiona, 2006;
Jose et al. (2011) indicated that tertiary Serlo, 2008) and majority of students
students in Papua New Guinea had perceived that AIDS as a serious
compassionate and disease (Ganczak et al., 2007).
considerate,
positive attitudes toward those who On the other hand, research
are HIV/AIDS-infected people. From study by Norman and colleagues
the result of this study showed that (2006) found that groups like sex
great majority of the students were worker, homosexuals and having sex
afraid of getting the disease, and less with multiple partners have socially
than half of them prefer to keep away marginalized syndrome as they are
from those infected with HIV/AIDS 183
Al-Fikra: Jurnal Ilmiah Keislaman, Vol. 16, No. 2, Juli – Desember , 2017 (176 – 202)
disease. Most of the students also on tertiary students in Papua New disagree with the statement that those
Guinea by Jose and colleagues (2011) people with HIV disease should be
attributed similar findings to the fact separated
that more peer education among community life. Such attitudes are
males than females due to the reason considered very positive and healthy
of the males feel comfortable to talk attitudes regarding HIV/AIDS toward
and learn about HIV/AIDS more than the HIV/AIDS victims in confronting
females who may be feel shy or not this HIV/AIDS pandemic.
comfortable when talk about such sensitive issue.
PersonalCharacteristics
(gender)
and Gender versus
Gender versus Attitudes toward Knowledge
HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS
Previous study was conducted Previous studies also indicated among Tertiary Students in Papua
that the gender difference closely New Guinea found that there was a
attitudes toward gender difference in knowledge about
connected with
(Serlo, 2008; Visser, HIV/AIDS (Jose et al., 2011). Other
HIV/AIDS
Makin&Lehobye, 2006). Research past
study showed thatmale expressed alsoshowed that females exhibited a
research literature
studies
acceptance and positive significantly higher level of knowledge
more
attitudes toward HIV/AIDS-infected about modes of transmission of
people than females (Tan et al., 2007). HIV/AIDS
In contrast, a study indicated that (Albrektsson, Alm, Tan
than
males
females had more tolerant and better 2009; Meundi et al., 2008).However,
&Andersson,
attitudes toward PLWHA compare to other
malesbecause females showed more researchesrevealed that male had
findings by
the
prior
compassionate and empathy toward higher knowledge as compared to
people with HIV/AIDS(Ganczak et al., female (Ganczak et al., 2007;Jose et
2007). Previous studiesalso mentioned al., 2011; Pramanik, Koopman &
that the gender role of females as Chartier, 2006; Vasan, Sarma &
caregivers in families were more Thankappan, 2000).
understanding and sympathetic with Moreover, the study by Ng and
the diseases (Baron& Byrne, 2002) Kamal (2006) also indicated that a
and more female than male students gender difference in how adolescent
felt that they could talk about perceived sexual risk of contracting
HIV/AIDS matters to their parents HIV/AIDS
(Albrektsson et al., 2009). condom use. Furthermore, another
and attitudes
toward
In comparison, other prior study indicated that more males
research studies proved that there was performed better in the two questions
no significant difference of attitudes of knowledge and practice than
toward AIDS between male and females, where transmission of the
female (Ellepola, Joseph, Sundaram& disease
Sharma, 2011; Meundi et al., 2008; andprevention by using condoms
via oral
transmission
2005). Although the correctly during sexual intercourse
Montazeri,
findings by Montazeri (2005) showed (Tan et al., 2007). Besides, the result
that there was no significant difference of the study from Pramanik and
in attitudes score across gender, and colleagues (2006) reported that male
positive attitudes toward AIDS and had better knowledge because of their
people with AIDS infection was found greater exposure to the HIV/AIDS
among the general public in Tehran, education as compare to female.Study
Iran. Unlike the findings of Montazeri 184
Hanina Halimatussaidiyah Hamsan, Lee Mei Siah; Islamic Khowledge and Attitudes Toward HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in UPM Serdang
attitudes toward and colleague (2011) in Kuwait
(2005), study conducted by Ellepola
HIV/AIDS
and
HIV/AIDS.
University indicated that majority of The correlation design is applied students expressed negative attitudes
to determine the linear relationship toward HIV/AIDS although the findings
personal characteristic was not significant.
between
(gender), knowledge and attitudes Meanwhile,
HIV/AIDS among FEM previous
undergraduates. The result of the colleagues (2004) demonstrated that
study by
Tavoosiand
correlation can be positive and males and females students were
negative. If the result is positive probably same unfavorably attitudes
correlation, then the changes in value toward HIV/AIDS disease, with males
of one variable will make the changes (50%) vs. females (48%) were agreed
of the other variables in the same that
direction, or vice versa.Comparative should not allowed to attend an
HIV/AIDS-infected
students
design is used to survey the ordinary schools; males (37%) vs.
and attitudes toward females (36%) prefer not to sit in a
knowledge
HIV/AIDS between male and female. class near a person with HIV positive;
The gender differences can be study and males (24%) vs. females (24%)
by comparing the difference in level of expressed they would not shake
and attitudes toward hands with a HIV positive person.
knowledge
HIV/AIDS.
The location of this present study
METHOD
conducted at FEM in UPM, Serdang, The purpose of this chapter is to
SelangorDarulEhsan, Malaysia. One discuss the research methodology
of the reasons for the FEM students which would be used in this current
were choose to access in this study as study. Discussions are divided into
they are expected to be expert in the seven
related fields of social science, research designs, location of the
humanities and development such as study, sampling, instrumentations and
anthropology, psychology, social work, measurements, pilot study (reliability),
community development and urban data collection, and data analysis. The
and rural studies. This is good idea for purpose of research design is to
me to investigate whether the students identify the most economical method
had a good knowledge and positive in conducting the research. The non-
attitudes toward HIV/AIDS or not since experimental quantitative research
their field of study is more associated design which is in questionnaire tools
to the humanities. has used to finalize results that are
The population of this study is based on hypothesis testing to achieve
targeted to the undergraduates from the objectives for this current study.
Human Ecology in UPM, Serdang. The Besides, three techniques of research
sample size for the study is design are descriptive, correlation and
determined by the calculation formula comparative also have been chosen in
(Israel, 2009). The minimum sample this study. Descriptive design is used
size for FEM is approximately 271, to gather the quantitative information
which is calculated by the formula of and then organizes, tabulates, depicts,
known population size (N = 835) with and describes the data collection.
the 95% confidence level and Descriptive involved in this study will
confidence interval of 5%. Sample size
be given a general description about of FEM is 326 after an extra 20% is respondent’s personal characteristic
included for the purpose of accuracy (gender), level of knowledge in
and in projection of any incomplete 185
Al-Fikra: Jurnal Ilmiah Keislaman, Vol. 16, No. 2, Juli – Desember , 2017 (176 – 202)
filled or missing data. However, there scale. The scale is internal consistent is
as it has reliability of Cronbach’s alpha questionnaire
only 275 online
answered
of 0.61. There are two parts of selected and used it in actual sample
will
be randomly
HIV/AIDS knowledge are measured by size of the research study.
the scale. The first part is General Besides, the respondents in this
Knowledge, which contains 21 items current study were surveyed using a
about the prevalence, risk factors, method of simple random sampling
course of the disease, diagnosis, and design with probability proportionate to
prevention of HIV/AIDS. The second size. This sampling technique is used
part is Likelihood of Transmission, in this study due to the problem of
concentrates on the modes of HIV gender imbalance where females now
transmission and contains 16 items in a substantial majority as students in
about possible ways to transmit HIV. most university faculties, including
The highest possible score for these FEM in UPM, Serdang. Therefore,
two parts in HIV/AIDS Knowledge male and female students have been
scale is 44.
selected with the ratio 4:6 where 110 For the General Knowledge part of males and 165 of females from the
of the HIV/AIDS knowledge scale, sample size of 275 as shown in the
respondents need to answer the 21 Figure 2.
items as either (1) definitely true, (2) probably true, (3) probably false, (4) definitely false, or (5) don’t know. While responses to the items of Likelihood
of Transmission, concentrates on the modes of HIV transmission and contains 16 items about possible ways to transmit HIV are (1) very likely, (2) somewhat likely, (3) somewhat unlikely, (4) very unlikely, (5) definitely not possible, or (6)
know. The overall knowledgescore is computed based on simple sum scores, means one point is given for every correct answer. Higher scores indicate greater HIV- related knowledge or vice-versa.
don’t
One point is given for every Figure 2: Proportionate random
correct answers in the first part of the sampling method
HIV/AIDS Knowledge scale, with the highest
possible score is 21:
Instrumentationsand Measurement
(1)definitelytrue for items 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, This current study involved two
11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21; (1) variables which are knowledge of
definitely true or (2) probably true for HIV/AIDS
items 7; and (4) definitely false for HIV/AIDS.
and attitudes
toward
items 2, 4, 6, 9, 13, 16, 17. While one measured by HIV/AIDS Knowledge
Both variables
were
point is given for the correct answers and Attitudes Scale for Hispanics. The
in second part of the HIV/AIDS instrument was developed by Luquis
Knowledge scale, with the highest and Koch (1991).
possible score is 23: (1) very likely for The knowledge of HIV/AIDS was
items 28, 35, 36; (4) very unlikely for measured by the HIV/AIDS Knowledge
items 24, 29; and (5)definitely not 186
Hanina Halimatussaidiyah Hamsan, Lee Mei Siah; Islamic Khowledge and Attitudes Toward HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in UPM Serdang
possible for items 22-23, 25-27, and Part 1 : This Part is to 30-34. For item 37, one point each is
measure general knowledge level given for ticking b, c, f, h and not
which contains 21 items about ticking a, d, e, g.
the prevalence, risk factors, course The list of Knowledge of
of the disease, diagnosis, and HIV/AIDS questionnaire had shown as
below: prevention of HIV/AIDS
No.
Statement
1. AIDS can reduce the body’s natural protection against diseases.
2. AIDS is especially common in older people.
3. AIDS can damage the brain.
4. AIDS usually leads to heart disease.
5. AIDS result from an infectious disease caused by a virus.
6. College students are not at risk of contracting AIDS.
7. AIDS leads to death.
8. A person can be infected with HIV and not have the disease AIDS.
9. Looking at a person is enough to tell if he or she has HIV.
10. Any person with AIDS can pass it on to someone else during unprotected sexual intercourse.
11. A person who has HIV can look and feel healthy and well.
12. A pregnant woman who has HIV can give the virus to her baby.
13. There is a vaccine available to the public that protects a person from getting HIV.
14. There is no cure for AIDS at the present time.
15. It may be more than 5 years before a person infected by HIV develops AIDS.
16. A person can be diagnosed with AIDS by taking one special blood test.
17. Using any type of condom can help protect you from AIDS.
18. Younger are at greater risk of getting AIDS than the rest of the population.
19. The epidemic of HIV/AIDS remained stable in Malaysia.
20. Everyday, an average of 10 people tested with positive HIV in Malaysia. Part 2: This Part is to measure the
concentrates knowledge on the possible ways to
transmission and
modes of HIV transmit HIV which contains
items about the
21. There arean estimated 100,000 or more people living with HIV in Malaysia.
22. Living near a hospital or home for AIDS patients.
23. Working near someone with HIV.
24. Kissing with exchange of saliva someone who has HIV.
25. Eating in a restaurant where the cook has HIV.
26. Shaking hands, touching, or kissing on the cheek someone who has HIV.
Al-Fikra: Jurnal Ilmiah Keislaman, Vol. 16, No. 2, Juli – Desember , 2017 (176 – 202)
27. Using public toilets.
28. Sharing needles for drug use with someone who has HIV.
29. Receiving a blood transfusion from a hospital blood bank.
30. Mosquito or other insect bites.
31. Donating blood.
32. Being coughed or sneezed on by someone who has HIV.
33. Attending class with a student who has HIV.
34. Sharing a dorm room with a student who has HIV.
35. Unprotected (without a condom) sexual intercourse with an HIV-infected person.
36. Unprotected (without a condom) anal intercourse with an HIV-infected person
37. Tick ( √) the fluids through which HIV has been transmitted: (a)
saliva
(b) semen ( ) (c)
vaginal secretions ( ) (d)
perspiration ( ) (e)
urine ( ) (f)
blood ( ) (g)
tears ( ) (h)
mother’s milk (
Attitudes toward HIV/AIDS
(3) are uncertain, (4) disagree, and (5) The attitudes toward HIV/AIDS are
disagree. The highest measured by the HIV/AIDS Attitudes
strongly
possible score for the scale of scale. The scale is high internal
attitudes toward HIV/AIDS is 130. A consistent as it has high reliability of
mean score is calculated for the cronbach’s alpha of 0.85. There are 26
HIV/AIDS Attitudes scale. The items items of attitudes about the HIV and
are reversed scored are 1, 5, 8, 9, 10, people who may be infected, sexual
12-13, 15-16, 20-23, 25-26. behavior and safer-sex practices, and discussions
The list of Attitudes toward HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS. There are 26 items in a 5-
and
learning about
questionnaire had shown as below: point Likert scale, ranging from (1) -
(5) where (1) strongly agree, (2) agree, No.
Statement
1. I believe I have enough information about AIDS to protect myself.
2. I believe women should not have sexual intercourse before marriage.
3. Activities that spread AIDS, such as some forms of sexual behavior, should be illegal.
4. I feel uncomfortable when coming in contact with gay men because of the risk that they may have for AIDS.
5. Civil rights laws should be enacted/enforced to protect people with AIDS from job and housing discrimination.
6. Male homosexuality is obscene and vulgar.
7. I believe men should not have sexual intercourse before marriage.
8. AIDS antibody blood test results should be confidential to avoid 188
Hanina Halimatussaidiyah Hamsan, Lee Mei Siah; Islamic Khowledge and Attitudes Toward HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in UPM Serdang
discrimination against people with positive results.
9. I feel that more time should be spent teaching students about AIDS.
10. People should not blame the homosexual community for the spread of AIDS in the Malaysia.
11. AIDS is a punishment for immoral behavior.
12. I feel secure that I have reduced all risk of personally contracting AIDS.
13. It would not bother me to attend class with a person with AIDS.
14. Anyone who has had more than one sexual partner is promiscuous.
15. I could comfortably discuss AIDS with a friend.
16. I would not avoid a friend if he/she had AIDS.
17. If I discovered that my roommate had AIDS, I would move out.
18. I do not believe in using condoms.
19. I could not discuss AIDS with my parents.
20. I would date a person with HIV.
21. I would feel comfortable discussing AIDS in a classroom situation.
22. I would not engage in sexual intercourse before marriage.
23. I would feel comfortable asking a new partner about his/her sexual history.
24. I would use AIDS as an excuse to avoid any sexual relationships.
25. I would limit myself to one sexual partner.
26. I would use a condom every time I had sex.
Pilot Study
was produced a reliable Cronbach’s The purpose of this pilot study is to
value for the HIV/AIDS test the reliability and validity of the
alpha
Knowledge and AttitudesScales for instrument and ensure that the scales
Hispanic. The summary of the were suitable to be applied in this
reliability result for Knowledge and research. This pilot study was carried
Attitudes ScalesforHispanicin original out in February, 2012 and a total
study, pilot study and current study number of thirty undergraduates from
were shown in the below Table 1Table FEM in UPM were randomly selected
1: Summary of the reliability cronbach to answer the questionnaire through
alpha value
online. From the result of pilot study, it Cronbach’s Alpha Value (α)
Scale
Original
Pilot
Current
Study
Study
Study
(n=275) HIV/AIDS Knowledge
(n=30)
0.856 HIV/AIDS Attitudes
Data Collection
data in the selected faculty. Google The online survey method by using
Documents is a free, web-based Google Documents has been utilized
spreadsheet, form and data storage in the present study to collect sufficient
services offered by Google. To create 189
Al-Fikra: Jurnal Ilmiah Keislaman, Vol. 16, No. 2, Juli – Desember , 2017 (176 – 202)
this online questionnaire must have a analyse the findings in this study. The Gmail account. To conduct this online
univariate analysis described by using survey must also need to obtain the
the descriptive statistics while bivariate email
analysis used to determine the undergraduates of FEM as the
relationship between two variables in respondents. After that, invitation link
this study. Two types of bivariate of online questionnaires will be sent
analysis that used in data analysis are out to the respondents. Later, all the
Pearson Correlation and T-test. completed response to the questions will be reply from those respondents
Descriptive analysis is used to identify and their answers will automatically
the distributional collected and saved in an Excel
and
describe
characteristics of the variables in the spreadsheet and that makes it easier
study. The univariate data (Specific for me to input the large sets of data
objective (1)) is described by using the into the SPSS to analyse the desired
descriptive statistics to give general resultTable 2: Section division for the
descriptions of the data. Descriptive questionnaire
statistics result would be reported using frequency (N), percentage (%), standard deviation, mean, minimum
Part A Respondent’s
Personal
and maximum.
Characteristic The correlation between two
Part B Knowledge of HIV/AIDS variables reflects the degree to which the variables were related, while
Part C Attitudes toward HIV/AIDS Pearson’s correlation reflects the
degree of linear relationship between The
online
questionnaire